How to hire a music therapy specialist

How to hire a music therapy specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step music therapy specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a music therapy specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new music therapy specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a music therapy specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A music therapy specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, music therapy specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents music therapy specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Music Therapy Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Music Therapy Specialist	Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, and community reintegration field trips to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.	$16-35
   Music Instructor	A Music Teacher instructs children and adults to sing or play instruments. They may teach lessons at school, train students at home, or conduct choir rehearsals.	$16-46
   Music Teacher	A music teacher is a professional who teaches music students about music theory, which includes sight-reading, the importance of scales, and instrumental techniques. Music teachers assist students with their instruments in preparing them for music examinations, auditions, and live performances while updating parents about the progress of their children's musical talents... Show more	$18-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Music Program
   • Music Education
   • Chorus
   • Public Schools
   • Music Curriculum
   • Kindergarten
   • Fine Arts
   • K-12
   • K-6
   • Choral Music
   • Grades K-5
   • Drama
   • Music History
   • Pre-K

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Direct, choreograph and manage school musical production of Willy Wonka, Jr.
   • Train playground leaders in music and drama activities.
   • Develop lesson plans appropriate for toddlers, pre-school, pre- k and kindergarten.
   • Administer music theory/instrumental tests, student performances & end of the year concerts for grades Pre-K through 6th.
   • Develop daily music lesson plans for eight , 50-minute classroom sessions for over 250 students, kindergarten to sixth grade.
   • Create and lead music activities for small groups of elementary age students including songwriting, instrument making, and instrument jams

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your music therapy specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A music therapy specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, music therapy specialists' average salary in alabama is 40% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level music therapy specialists 53% less than senior-level music therapy specialists.
   • Certifications. A music therapy specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a music therapy specialist's salary.

   Average music therapy specialist salary

   $50,810yearly

   $24.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level music therapy specialist salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a music therapy specialist job description

   A music therapy specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a music therapy specialist job description:

   Music therapy specialist job description example

   * Job Objective: A brief overview of the position.
   * The position is responsible for ensuring that all patients have an accurate and comprehensive scheduling, and registration experience in the office.
   
   * Customer Service - Ensures that all patients have a satisfying registration experience and are provided with choices, option and counseling to assist them in making their healthcare decisions.
   
   * Accurate Registrations - Ensures accurate, comprehensive registrations of patients.
   
   * Accurate Insurance - Ensures accurate patient insurance information is recorded including verification of eligibility and benefits.
   
   * Point of Service Collections - Ensures that patient financial responsibility (co-pays, deductibles) is collected at or before the time of service.
   
   * Reports to
   * Supervisor, Manager, Director, CAO
   
   * Supervises
   * Not Applicable
   
   * Ages of Patients
   * Neonate/ Infant (as appropriate for department)
   
   * Pediatric (as appropriate for department)
   
   * Adolescent (as appropriate for department)
   
   * Adult
   
   * Geriatric
   
   * Blood Borne Pathogens
   * Minimal/Moderate Potential
   
   * Qualifications
   * Education
   * Preferred: High School Diploma/GED or equivalent work experience
   
   * Licensure/Certification
   * N/A
   
   * Experience
   * Preferred: Previous experience in Healthcare setting and/or Customer Service Experience
   
   * Preferred: Medical terminology, payment processing, Hospital based Federal Rules, Regulations and procedures, safety practices
   
   * Essential Responsibilities
   * Demonstrates compliance with Code of Conduct and compliance policies, and takes action to resolve compliance questions or concerns and report suspected violations.
   
   * Properly greets patients.
   
   * Properly identifies patients by using two patient identifiers and proper method of retrieving patient history/information, avoiding creation of duplicate Medical Records for additional patient visits.
   
   * Registers patients following standard work and maintains compliance according to departmental benchmark guidelines. Verifies and accurately enters and updates patient information while registering as per departmental guidelines.
   
   * Coordinates and assists other staff in ensuring that all patients are registered in a timely manner.
   
   * Properly completes check in process and/or verifies e-Check in is complete
   
   * Confirm all insurance information is accurate and up to date
   
   * Scan photo ID and insurance card
   
   * Prepares all appropriate Medicare Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) and (LMRP) program requirements and completion, including patient notification and signature requirements at time of service
   
   * Completes the Medicare Screening Form for all Medicare patients and adheres to completion per Medicare requirements.
   
   * Ensures all patient access paperwork per policy, including regulatory forms, insurance verifications and signatures required to perform service are collected and complete.
   
   * Collects co-pay/deductible/form fees or any appropriate estimates and provide patient with receipt of payment.
   
   * Answers and properly routes all incoming calls in an appropriate and timely manner, ensuring a high level of customer service is provided at all times.
   
   * Responsible for collecting and routing incoming faxes and messages, per specific clinic guidelines.
   
   * Performs daily cash balancing per department guidelines
   
   * Maintains registration error accuracy rate of 97% or higher, signaling a proper and complete registration. Demonstrates and maintain all other departmental accuracy and productivity standards.
   
   * Ensures that all patient complaints or concerns are handled using the appropriate chain of command.
   
   * Ensures compliance with department specific guidelines and competencies.
   
   * Successfully completes all required training, orientation, and competency courses on timely basis.
   
   * Demonstrates a basic knowledge of insurances, including eligibility and benefit coverage, and other relevant information.
   
   * Provides accurate cash price/quote to self-pay patients.
   
   * Follows the identified dress code and safety protocols to ensure patient and employee safety.
   
   * Maintains and practices professional boundaries with all patient interactions.
   
   * Performs other duties as assigned.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right music therapy specialist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your music therapy specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit music therapy specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit music therapy specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new music therapy specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the music therapy specialist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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